Process of manufacturing hydrogen.



m, n Mu tva s n G. PUT-AUBERT;

` PROCESS 0F MANUFACTURING HYDROGEN.

.APPLICATION lFILED JILY 19, 1911. 10

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6&0 rg@ El? COLUMBIA PLANOGAEH CO.. WASHINGIO, D- Chl e. P. JAUBERT. PROCESS 0F MANUFACTURING HYDBOGEN.

Arrmenmn FILED lJULY 19, 1911.

- Patented Sept. 10, 1912. a sums-SHEET' 2.

Figi*ab CDLUMIIA PMNOIIIAPH C0., WASHINDNN, D. C. V

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G. F. JAUBERT. PROCESS OP MANUFAGTURING HYDROGEN.

APPLICATION P ILBD JULY 19, i911.

Patented Sept. I0, 1912.

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"23 CHEMISTRY w' h wel nvt l BML! PUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE FRANQOIS J' AUBERT, `0F PARIS, FRANCE.

PROCESS 0F MANUFACTURING HYDROGEN.

y,of silicon are caused to act upon a solution of caustic fallali of high specificheat (with a high boiling point) with the object of retaining and storing in this rsolution itself all the heat liberated by the reaction which arises in the combination of silicon with the alkali in such a manner as to dispense with any added heat due to external heat-ing. With a similar object pure silicon in the form of powder has already been heated to boiling point with a dilute solution of caustic soda but this method presents the capital defect (having regard to the low specific heat of the dilute solution employed) of volatilizing the water of the solution during the reaction of the silicon upon the soda and of therefore necessitating the provision of supplementary heat from an external source. This source, which is, generally speaking, a steam generator increases the bulk of the apparatus and consequently renders it difficult to transport for certain purposes such as the inflation of balloons for example.

In the accompanying drawing which represents an installation for carrying the process into practice Figures 1 and 1aL are elevations, and Fig. 2 is a plan.

In the manufacture a tank a provided with an agitator I) is utilized for the preparation of the solution of caustic soda. A pipe c having a cock or valve d, connects the lower part of the tank a with the lower part of the gas generator e. A sun and planet agitator f driven by a crank g is ar ranged in the lower` part of the gas generator e. The hopper z' of the vessel L is provided with a distributer having an operating handle j, so that the alloy of silicon contained in the vessel and hopper is distributed within the gas generator. By means of a pipe lc proceeding from its upper part the generator e communicates with a scrubber condenser m provided with a gas Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 19, 1911.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

Serial No. 639,308.

- ated cock u and leading to the gas generator c. The pipe c forms a hydraulic seal for the gas generator e in such a manner as to constitute a safety valve therefor. The installatio-n comprises a water pressure gage the two branches w e of which are connected wit-h the pipe o and with the throttled part q respectively.

The operation is as follows: The soda in the form of lumps, cylinders or plates is introduced into the tank a with from one and a half to twice its weight of water; the agitator Z) is then operated; the soda is dissolved with a sufficient liberation of heat to raise the temperature to about 6() or 80 C. The solution is then conducted into the generator e through the pipe c and should reach it at a temperature sufficient for starting the reaction on contact with the alloy of silicon. The sun and planet agitator f brings the silicon powder alloy coming from the hopper z' into intimate contact with the solution of caustic soda without enabling it to accumulate at the center of the generator. The hydrogen gas which is liberated at a high temperature proceeds through the pipe 7c into the condenser scrubber m where it is deprived of the water vapor that it contains and is simultaneously cooled. This hydrogen then escapes through the connection n and proceeds to the utilization apparatus. The water that has served to cool the gas in the scrubber condenser m is recovered and directed through the pipes r and t respectively into the tank a and into the generator e in accordance with requirements. On the passage of the gas through the conical pipes 0 p there is produced at the restricted or throttled portion g a partial vacuum due to the increase at the velocity with which the gas passes this point so that the pressure gage will indicate a higher pressure as the supply of gas increases.

with the same object permits of largely reducing the cost of the hydrogen. In employing a dilute solution of caustic soda neutral silicate of soda is formed While With a concentrated solution an acid silicate poorer in soda is formed thereby effecting an economy of caustic soda and permitting of obtaining non-caustic residues which can be utilized in dyeing and bleaching. The Water pressure gage can be connected by means of a suitable control With the distributor for the powdered silicon alloy so as to cause the quantity of this substance distributed to vary automatically in accordance with the consumption. The alloys or combinations of silicon which have given good results are ferro-silicon, mangano-silicon or silico spiegels. Caustic soda has been indicated as the caustic solution but a\concen-v trated solution of caustic potash or a concentrated solution of sulfate of potash or of soda containing caustic alkali might equally Well be employed.

The invention is applicable to the preparation of hydrogen gas particularly in the "field for the inflation of balloons of all kinds gen, Which consists in causing a solution of caustic alkali of high specific heat (that is, of high boiling point) to act upon an alloy of silicon in such a manner as to retain in the solution the heat liberated by the reaction and thereby render unnecessary the application of external heat.

2. The process for manufacturing hydrogen, Which consists in causing a solution of caustic alkali of high specific heat (that is, of high boiling point) and in an agitated state to act upon an alloy of silicon in such a manner as to retain in the solution the heat liberated by the reaction and thereby render unnecessary the application of eX- ternal heat.

3. The process for manufacturing hydrogen, which consists in causing a solution of caustic alkali of high specific heat (that is, of high boiling point) to act upon an alloy of silicon, then Washing and cooling the hydrogen With Water, and utilizing the heated Water in dissolving the caustic alkali to form a solution thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto placed my hand at Paris7 France, this eleventh day of July 1911.

GEORGE FRANQOIS J AUBERT.

In the presence of two Witnesses:

LOUIS COQUILLAT, H. C. COXE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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